Dental clamp.



Patented Jan. 23, I900.

No. 64l, 672.

W. l. BRIGHAM. DENTAL CLAMP.

(Application 5166 m 1, 1899.)

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NITED STATES AT'ENT FFIcE.

DENTAL CLAM P.

S?EOIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 641,672, dated January 23, 1900.

f Application filed May 1, 1899. Serial No. 715,089. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER I. BRIGHAM, of South Framingham, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusettsmave invented an Improvement in Dental Clamps, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification,

like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

Dental cervical clamps are formed with a yoke portion which extends around the tooth and has near each end portions to contact with the neck of the tooth in the region of the cavity, the clamp whenin place serving to prevent the rubber dam from covering the cavity and interfering with the operator. As at present constructed such clamps have been unwieldy, lacking in adjustability, and it has been necessary to provide rights and lefts, upper and lower, owing to the lack of means providing for universal attachment. Anotherdefect of existing constructions has been the stiffness of the spring material of which the bow is formed, found necessary in the attempt to insure firm contact with different sizes of teeth, such stiffness being especially objectionable for the reason that it renders the clamp difficult to attach and hurts the patient during and after attachment. The unwieldiness has been due in large measure to the fact that it has been considered necessary to make both of the contact portions broad in order to provide a large contacting region on each side of the tooth.

In accordance with my invention I have provided a clamp having preferably the feature of universal adjustability, the contact portion being arranged to present but a single point to engage the tooth adjacent the cavity, thus interfering in a minimum degree with the operator in his work. This single point of contact or contacting member is preferably adjustable to different thicknesses of tooth and also interchangeable in its position ings and specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a dental cervical clamp, in the construction of which the various features of my invention have been embodied. Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the same, and Fig. 3 a view in perspective.

In the'construction selected for illustration and description as embodying various features of my invention in convenient form the reference-letter a designates the bow portion of the clamp, near each end whereof, as at b c, are the portions where are situated the means to contact with the tooth. On one side, as at c, the contact portion may be formed with a slight concavity, as at d, to conform more or less closely with the convex portion of the neck of the tooth on the opposite side of the tooth from that in which is the cavity.

When the clamp is to be arranged for universal adjustment, as it will be preferably, the other arm of the bow may have a like contour, as at e, to permit reversal, since such clamps are formed usually with the attaching portions offset from the plane of the bow in order that the latter may not extend across the cavity or otherwise interfere with the operator.

Of great importance among the features of my invention is the provision for but a single point of contact on the arm of the clamp adjacent the cavity, and as one convenient form of contacting member having a single point I have shown at f a screw, which in the instance illustrated finds its bearing in a lug g on and preferably integral with the arm I) of the clamp, the threaded hole It through which the screw passes being bored in such a direction as to position the point of the screw opposite the contacting portion d, but preferably a little farther out with reference to the bow portion of the clamp. i

Where each arm of the bow is provided with a portion adapted to contact with the tooth on the side opposite that in which is the cavity, as at d and e, I prefer to provide aboaring for the single-point-contacting member on each arm of the bow, as at g and 2', so that the single-point-contacting member may be used interchangeably on either side, thus pro- Viding not only for adjustability to different sizes of teeth by reason of its capability of moving forward and backward in the bearing, but also providing for universal attachment, whether on the right or left side of the mouth or on the upper or lower jaw. The s ingle-point-contacting member will preferably be provided with a head j, where said member takes the form of a screw; but it will be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of a screw as a single-point-contacting member and to secure the advantages of adjustability and universality of attachment, nor do I limit myself to its interchange from one arm of the bow to the other to provide for universal attachment, inasmuch as I con sider myself the first to provide for contact at but a single point adjacent the cavity, and also consider myself the first to provide a clamp attachable to any tooth, whether it be situated on the upper or lower jaw, right or left. My claims therefore are to be considered generic on these features. By providing the bearing for the single-contacting member beyond the contacting portion for the other side of the tooth, considered relatively to the bow of the clamp, I am enabled to cause the single-point member to find its seat in the cementum of the tooth above the labial border, and thus insure a very firm attachment. This arrangement also makes the arm of the bow 011 the single-point side longer than the other arm, affording more room in which the operator may work.

Having thus described my invention fully, it will be understood that I do not limit myself to any particular material, nor to the exact construction shown, nor in general otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A dental cervical clamp, comprising a bow having near each end tooth-engaging portions, one of which presents but a single point to contact with said tooth adjacent the region to be treated.

2. A dental cervical clamp, comprising a bow having near each end tooth-en gaging portions, one of which consists of a single-pointcontacting member adjustable toward and away from said tooth.

3. A dental cervical clamp, comprising a bow having near one end a portion to contact with atooth on the side thereof opposite that to be treated, said bow being provided near its opposite end with an adjustable screw to contact with, and attach said clamp to, said tooth on the side adjacent the region to be treated.

4. A dental cervical clamp, comprising a bow, provided near each end with a portion to contact with a tooth on the side opposite that to be treated, and with bearings near said ends respectively to receive an attaching-screw; and a screw to enter either of said bearings interchangeably and contact with said tooth.

5. A bow for dental cervical clamps, said bow having near one end an attaching portion adapted to contact with a tooth on the side opposite that to be treated, said bow having near its opposite end a bearing adapted to receive an adjustable contact member and present the same toward said first-mentioned attaching portion but at a point farther removed from said bow.

6. A bow for dental cervical clamps, composed of a blank of fiat metal formed at each end with a concave attaching portion, and having integral lugs bent up adjacent and be yond said attaching portions respectively, to provide on each side a bearing to receive an adjustable contacting member and present the same toward the concave attaching portion on the opposite side.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER I. BRIGIIAM.

Witnesses JOHN C. EDWARDS, AUGUSTA E. DEAN. 

